St. Patrick's Russman earns state honor

The Portland St. Patrick football team garnered a great deal of attention and accolades for earning a 12-1 record in its first year as an 8-player football team.

Last week, the Shamrocks received one more.

St. Pats head coach Pat Russman was named the 2012 Division 9 Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association, an award voted on by the state football coaches themselves.

Russman said that the award says a great deal about the players, coaches and community members that have supported the program all year.

"This award says a lot about the work the players and coaches from the youth level up have put into the program," he said. "It also says a lot about the community support we have had all season.

"There are a lot of people doing good things in this football program."

The Shamrocks began their first campaign in the 8-player division by going 9-0 in the regular season, beating Battle Creek St. Philip, Tekonsha, Burr Oak and Waldron twice. They entered the state championship tournament as one of the favorites to win the 8-player championship and defeated Marine City Cardinal Mooney (5-5) in the regional semifinals.

St. Pats earned its third win of the season over St. Philip (7-4) to win its first regional football championship since 1997, before falling to eventual state champions Deckerville in the state semifinals in double overtime.

"It's good to see that all of the hard work by the team and coaches added up to a lot of good things this season," Russman said. "I am thankful for the players and coaches Al Schrauben, Adam Schrauben and Tom Thelen and all the work they put in this season."

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